7 Easy Valentine's Day Makeup Looks If You Hate A Red Lip

When Valentine's Day rolls around, many of those who love to celebrate love don their best red clothing and finish off their look with a pop of red lipstick. After all, you can't help but get excited about a day centered around chocolate and romance, and creating the perfect look only puts you in a more festive mood. However, even if Valentine's Day is your favorite holiday, you might not be a fan of red lipstick, so I'm here as a makeup artist with over 15 years of experience to share plenty some sweet and romantic makeup alternatives.

Valentine's Day is all about being fun and flirty, so there are no limits when it comes to your makeup. In lieu of red lipstick, you can go for bright pink, a sultry burgundy shade, or a custom ombré look. Oh, and you can go beyond lip colors. If you don't like a strong lip, try a daring red eyeliner or recreate Sabrina Carpenter's doll-like makeup with liquid blush from ColourPop (or your favorite brand). The sky's the limit for Valentine's Day makeup, and I'm here to give you some inspiration to nail your perfect look.

If you hate a red lip but want to rock a bright color, look no further than fuchsia. This cool shade is meant to wow, so go for the boldest lipstick you can find. To perfect the trendy ombré lip, outline your mouth with a darker hue using a lip brush, and feather it inward. Then, apply the lighter color on the middle of your lips, making sure to blend the two shades for a gradient effect.

Nothing screams "Valentine's Day" like pink, and if you want a subtle makeup look, a sprinkle of cotton candy-colored eyeshadow is the way to go. For an ethereal feeling, apply the shadow on the inner corners of your eyes, and sweep it along your bottom lid, leaving the top bare. Add a hint of shimmer with highlighter, and you'll look like a fairy princess. To avoid looking like you have a case of pinkeye, I suggest staying away from shades that have too much red and opt for pastel-leaning colors instead.

Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to bejewel your face, and an adorable heart shape around your eyes goes with the theme super well. Try using pearls for an elevated look — they're super easy to apply if you get ones that already include an adhesive. To make the process fool-proof, outline the shape with an eyeliner close to your skin tone, and then, using tweezers, carefully apply the pearls. For added staying power, apply tiny dots of eyelash glue, and let each dry for about 10 seconds before placing a pearl onto it.

If you have a hot date for Valentine's Day, you'll likely be blushing naturally, but you can enhance your rosy cheeks with the traditionally spring and summer sunset blush trend that pushes past basic pink. This look is easily done with two liquid blushes in bright pink and orange. Simply place a dot of orange onto your cheekbones, and then apply the pink shade right above it. Blend the two colors with a makeup sponge or a flat kabuki brush, but not so much that they get muddied together. You want to see a clear distinction, like the colors of a sunset.

Red lipstick isn't for everyone, but magenta is perfect for adding a burst of color without letting it overpower your face. For an easy Valentine's Day look, even out your skin with tinted moisturizer, and swipe a couple of coats of mascara on your lashes. Apply the lipstick straight from the tube, and for the perfect French-girl makeup look, blur the edges with your ring finger for a slightly lived-in finish.

Not into the sweet and innocent look? Deep-burgundy lips will give you the edge you crave. Applying dark lipstick takes a bit of effort, as you want to keep the lines crisp and clean, so be sure to line your lips with a pencil first. Next, apply the lipstick with a small lip brush, making sure to go over the liner to avoid an obvious outline. Blot with a tissue, and add a second layer for extra staying power. To keep the focus on your lips, keep the rest of your makeup simple with just a swipe of eyeliner and a hint of blush.

You may not associate peach with Valentine's Day, but hear me out: It's a gorgeous shade that looks super soft and romantic while giving you a summery glow in the middle of February. If you're a neutrals type of babe, this shade is for you, and to make your application easy, use the same color on your lids and cheeks for a monochromatic look. Because neutral makeup can easily wash you out, I suggest adding bold, winged eyeliner to make your features pop. Finish your look with a soft-pink lip gloss, and your date won't be able to take their eyes off of you.